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The Farm to Tray program at Liberty Technology Magnet High School in Jackson, Tenn., provides greenhouse-grown fruits and vegetables to five Jackson-Madison County schools. Janey Thornton, a deputy undersecretary in the U.S. Agriculture Department, calls it a model for the country, and since demand for the produce is greater than the supply, agriculture and marketing students are lobbying to add an additional greenhouse.

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Jackson-Madison County General Hospital forensic nurse Lucinda Bridges says forensics is an "underserved but necessary" part of nursing, and she finds it rewarding to help sexual-assault victims. The Tennessee hospital's program is voluntary, has a nurse on call at all hours and cared for 121 victims in the last fiscal year.

Students who attend Jackson Central-Merry High School's Academy of Medical Technology in Tennessee learn about medical-career options through clinical internships offered through a partnership with Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Students who find a field they enjoy at the hospital tend to pursue a career in that area, health science instructor Sheila Castleman said.

McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport in Jackson, Tenn., will take over ground services currently performed by U.S. Aviation Services. The Jackson-Madison County Airport Authority bought the services of U.S. Aviation Services and will take over Sept. 1. Steve Smith, the airport's executive director, said the move will help the airport reach its goal to "be totally independent and not have to go back for supplemental money from the city and county."

A huge backlog of permanent resident status applications means many foreign nurses are waiting to fill jobs at U.S. health care facilities. Kenneth Hegna secured an operating room nurse job at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in West Tennessee nearly two years ago, but he can't yet leave the Philippines. A bill is expected to be filed in Congress this week that would open up an additional 60,000 visas for nurses and physical therapists over the next three years.

Jackson-Madison County Hospital nurses welcomed back some of their smallest patients during a recent neonatal reunion. "It is so exciting when they get to go home," says NICU nurse Kimberly Hood. "Most people don't realize what these families have to go through and how sick these babies can be."